The Lincoln Yards development site is seen on the North Side of Chicago. The project was approved by the City Council's Zoning Committee on March 7, 2019, though it still awaits action from the Finance Committee and the full council.

The Lincoln Yards development site is seen on the North Side of Chicago. The project was approved by the City Council's Zoning Committee on March 7, 2019, though it still awaits action from the Finance Committee and the full council. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Mayor Rahm Emanuel went to unusual lengths Thursday to push the controversial Lincoln Yards plan through a City Council committee, relying on aldermanic allies to override the usually sacrosanct wishes of the committee chair, who wanted to defer the vote on the massive project.

Developer Sterling Bay emerged from the dramatic meeting with support from the City Council’s Zoning Committee for its $6 billion development on the North Side.

The key vote took place after the Zoning Committee’s acting chairman, 46th Ward Ald. James Cappleman, began the meeting by announcing he was deferring the vote. But a vote of the panel overrode that decision.

The committee’s 9-4 vote moved the mixed-use project, which could reshape 54.5 acres of formerly industrial land along the Chicago River between North and Webster avenues, closer to the starting line for construction.

What is Lincoln Yards?

Chicago developer Sterling Bay proposes 14.5 million square feet of residential and commercial towers, as well as 21 acres of open space, a relocated Metra train station and other changes to formerly industrial land between Lincoln Park and Bucktown.

The project is expected to take about a decade to build in phases, creating 10,000 construction jobs and eventually 6,000 homes and 23,000 employees on the site.

On Thursday, Hopkins unveiled additional changes, including a 500,000-square-foot reduction in overall density and a decrease in the tallest building height to 595 feet, from 650 feet. The tallest towers would be 595 and 575 feet high.

Hopkins also said there are agreements for continued reviews of the development, a level of public oversight that he said is unprecedented in Chicago. Another agreement will create oversight of an 11-acre park, regardless of whether it’s owned publicly or privately.

Huu Nguyen, left, and other people opposed to the fast track approval of Serling Bay's Lincoln Yards development hold a press conference at City Hall March 7, 2019, to call on Zoning Chair Ald. James Cappleman to delay a vote on the project's zoning changes.

Huu Nguyen, left, and other people opposed to the fast track approval of Serling Bay's Lincoln Yards development hold a press conference at City Hall March 7, 2019, to call on Zoning Chair Ald. James Cappleman to delay a vote on the project's zoning changes. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

Who is opposed?

Several aldermen and community groups remain opposed to the project.

Foes have asked for final decisions on zoning to be delayed until after the April runoff election between Toni Preckwinkle and Lori Lightfoot to succeed Emanuel.

During a news conference before Thursday’s meeting, opponents — including Cappleman’s foe in an aldermanic runoff election, Marianne Lalonde — decried the use of TIF funds. “TIF funds should go to benefit the entire community, and not just the wealthy few,” Lalonde said.

Members of her coalition also argued that the revised affordable housing commitment remains insufficient.

The city’s planning department said affordable rents would range from $750 to $900 per month for one-bedroom apartments, and from $900 to $1,075 for two-bedroom units.

Why the TIF?

Up to $1.3 billion in TIF funds are proposed to create new infrastructure including bridges and a reconfigured intersection of Armitage, Ashland and Elston avenues.

Sterling Bay would pay many of those costs upfront and would be paid back as its project and other developments in the TIF district generate new taxes over the next 23 years.

The city is seeking state and federal transportation funds to support those projects, which could reduce the amount of TIF funding, Hopkins said.

Who voted?

Aldermen who voted against the project Thursday were Cappleman; Ameya Pawar, 47th; George Cardenas, 12th; and Deborah Mell, 33rd.

What happens next?

Sterling Bay needs the City Council’s Finance Committee to approve the TIF funding. The full City Council also must approve TIF funds, as well as hold a separate vote on overall zoning for the site.

The TIF issue is likely to be referred to the Finance Committee during next week’s City Council meeting, Hopkins said. That means the project is likely to come before the full City Council in April, after the runoff election for mayor but before Emanuel’s successor is sworn in.

Hopkins said with the recent changes, he believes the full City Council will approve Lincoln Yards.

The headline on this story has been revised to clarify that final approval for the project will require three separate votes, not two.